JFK layover - what to do?
Jun 25th, 2010, 08:59 PM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Go to Times Square. About $10 round trip from JFK to Jamaica Station then purchase an all day subway pass for $8.25 to Manhattan or anywhere you chose on subway system. Allow about an hour and a half to get back to JFK. If you want a good view of Lady Liberty exit near Wall Street stop and do a quick round trip on Staten Island Ferry. Great views of Manhattan and New York Harbor.
My favorite pizza in NYC ... Amadeus on 8th Ave between 50th and 52nd. Short walk from Times Square headed towards Central Park.
Wherever you go, NYC is fun. Times Square should be a must see. Remember allow enough time to get back to JFK and chose the right train ... Metro employees are helpful.
Safe travels .... http://dmbtravelerusa.blogspot.com/
My favorite pizza in NYC ... Amadeus on 8th Ave between 50th and 52nd. Short walk from Times Square headed towards Central Park.
Wherever you go, NYC is fun. Times Square should be a must see. Remember allow enough time to get back to JFK and chose the right train ... Metro employees are helpful.
Safe travels .... http://dmbtravelerusa.blogspot.com/
Jun 26th, 2010, 01:03 AM
#3
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 26,710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is really a lot less time than you think. I would spring for a cab which will be $45 plus toll and tip each way
I assume you need to be back at JFK 2 hours before flight time.
Please also note that in NYC it is called the subway or the train not the metro. This is not nit picking, many will not know the reference.
I assume you need to be back at JFK 2 hours before flight time.
Please also note that in NYC it is called the subway or the train not the metro. This is not nit picking, many will not know the reference.
Jun 26th, 2010, 09:58 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If it's 7 hrs. between landing and taking off, you have to allow at least an hour to/from the airport into Manhattan and you need to check in for your on-going flight 2-3 hrs. before take off depending on whether it's domestic or international. That can whittle your real time to do something in Manhattan to 2-3 hrs. Top of the Rock is one idea. It's smack in the center of the famous bit of Fifth ave. across from ST. Patrick's Cathedral. It will give you a fabulous view.
Jun 26th, 2010, 10:32 AM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Agree that even if your plane lands on time (and JFK is reconstructing one runway) you will have or more than 2 or 3 hours in the city. I would do one quick sights - agre Top of te Rock is a good one - and try to find a decent meal - which you will get neither onthe plane or at the airport.
Also - if you will have carry-ons you don;t want to tote around with you - you need to allow 30 minutes to take them to be checked and get back to the AirTrain to Get to LIRR (faster than the subway usually).
Also - if you will have carry-ons you don;t want to tote around with you - you need to allow 30 minutes to take them to be checked and get back to the AirTrain to Get to LIRR (faster than the subway usually).
Jun 26th, 2010, 11:01 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the advice. We didn't know how much time we'd need to set aside for travel into the city (had no idea it would take an hour). We will look up Top of the Rock for more info. Not having ever been to NYC we were hoping to check out Time Square. Can we swing it? Our next flight is domestic so that buys us some time. Eating a good meal was our thought, too. But where?
Jun 26th, 2010, 12:42 PM
#7
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Top of the Rock is in Rockefeller Center, just a few blocks from Times Square. It is reasonable to combine the two.
http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/
http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/
Jun 26th, 2010, 12:52 PM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,880
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since this is a Saturday coming into the city you will have a little less traffic, so I'd suggest taking a cab to as close to 34th and 5th Ave. That's the Empire State Building right in front of you.
From there walk up 5th Ave do a little window shopping, and at 42nd St turn left and you are heading toward Times Square. That's the Library right on the corner and at the back of the Library is Bryant Park, you might pick up a sandwich and get a table in the park to have your lunch, that's a very New York thing to do.
From there walk the same direction you were walking one more major block to Times Square, walk around and see the sites, then head back East to catch a cab heading back to the Airport.
That should pretty much take up all the time you have to see the city, this trip, but please come back!!!!
From there walk up 5th Ave do a little window shopping, and at 42nd St turn left and you are heading toward Times Square. That's the Library right on the corner and at the back of the Library is Bryant Park, you might pick up a sandwich and get a table in the park to have your lunch, that's a very New York thing to do.
From there walk the same direction you were walking one more major block to Times Square, walk around and see the sites, then head back East to catch a cab heading back to the Airport.
That should pretty much take up all the time you have to see the city, this trip, but please come back!!!!
Jun 26th, 2010, 04:29 PM
#9
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Times Square can be seen in about 15 minutes - since there is really nothing to see. It is an area with a lot of highrise office buildings - but n the ground level are theaters, shops for every useless thing you can imagine (M&M store?), lots of overpriced chain restaurants - and everything covered with lights - blinking, flashing, moving lights of very color and plastered onto everything - accompanied by a huge umber of LED displays of all sorts of useless information.
Jun 27th, 2010, 04:43 AM
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I think we now know enough to plan a short jaunt into the city just to get a taste of it! And, yes, travelbuff, we will be back - next time we'll make sure we have enough time to really take it all in.
Jun 27th, 2010, 08:33 AM
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I really would not take a taxi. Traffic on Saturday can be surprisingly heavy. It often takes more than an hour for me to get to JFK on weekends by taxi (and Saturday midday is often just as bad as Sunday afternoon), and I live on the east side.
The Airtrain/LIRR combo costs about $12 each way now and takes about 40 minutes. That's twice as quick as the subway.
Top of the Rock is a good idea, and if you are into museums, you can get a combo ticket to MOMA and TOTR. You could have a quick meal at Le Relais de Venise (salad plus a steak with special sauce and delicious fries for $24), and you can always get in and out in an hour or less. But that's all they have on the menu (quite literally). That is at 52nd and Lexington Ave, about 10 minutes walk from Rock Center. Walk back through Times Square to Penn Station on your way back, and you om
Bly need to pay for one subway ride. It would be a huge waste to buy an unlimited subway pass because you won't have time to use it.
The Airtrain/LIRR combo costs about $12 each way now and takes about 40 minutes. That's twice as quick as the subway.
Top of the Rock is a good idea, and if you are into museums, you can get a combo ticket to MOMA and TOTR. You could have a quick meal at Le Relais de Venise (salad plus a steak with special sauce and delicious fries for $24), and you can always get in and out in an hour or less. But that's all they have on the menu (quite literally). That is at 52nd and Lexington Ave, about 10 minutes walk from Rock Center. Walk back through Times Square to Penn Station on your way back, and you om
Bly need to pay for one subway ride. It would be a huge waste to buy an unlimited subway pass because you won't have time to use it.
Jun 27th, 2010, 08:42 AM
#12
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 26,710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Per Doug's suggestions.
Please note that there is reduced subway service on the weekends and a wild card. Every weekend somewhere in the subway system they are doing work. Now clearly it may not be the E train but it could be effected. So if you do take the Airtrain take the LIRR which also has a reduced weekend schedule.
Please note that there is reduced subway service on the weekends and a wild card. Every weekend somewhere in the subway system they are doing work. Now clearly it may not be the E train but it could be effected. So if you do take the Airtrain take the LIRR which also has a reduced weekend schedule.
Jun 27th, 2010, 06:45 PM
#13
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I live by the E train and take it all the time in Manhattan. IT's a huge bitch on the weekends in that sometimes it doesn't stop at certain stations and/or is just out of service. Also, with the new service cuts you could wait up to 30 minutes for a subway to show up. Yesterday on the 6 they skipped a bunch of stops and it wasn't even an express (worked out great for me but not for many others).
Why risk leaving the airport? Just come visit another time when you can enjoy it. There are spas and things to do at JFK-make appointments for a massage or buy a day pass to the Admirals Club and take a shower. Is it worth it to haul yourselves into NYC just to see Times Square, the grossest part of NYC? IMHO the answer is no, but if you do want to get out of the airport what about going the other way to Long Island and going to the Americana Mall or somewhere on the south shore for a nice meal?
Why risk leaving the airport? Just come visit another time when you can enjoy it. There are spas and things to do at JFK-make appointments for a massage or buy a day pass to the Admirals Club and take a shower. Is it worth it to haul yourselves into NYC just to see Times Square, the grossest part of NYC? IMHO the answer is no, but if you do want to get out of the airport what about going the other way to Long Island and going to the Americana Mall or somewhere on the south shore for a nice meal?
Jul 5th, 2010, 11:14 AM
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, our trip has come and gone and we never even got the chance to consider a New York visit because our layover was eliminated! Our flight into JFK was canceled and we spent the day bouncing from one airport to another via re-directed flights. But thanks for all the great input. I will file it all under "trip to NYC - soon". You'll hear from me again when we plan that trip!
